Stop painting Azriel as this desperate, introverted, loner type. He is nothing short of beautiful with a midnight voice and the biggest wings. Feyre wonders if he gets his information through stone-cold manners as much as stealth and shadows and even Lucien thinks he seems like a decent enough male. Rhys notes his sly, wicked sense of humor and Cassian observes he can waltz as easily as breathing. Even Mor who is only romantically interested in women considers sleeping with him just to make sure. The boy is good. Lucien is not better suited for Elain because they both like socialising— Az is charming the masses left, right and centre. He could bed (and murder) most of Prythian. You know it, I know it, SJM knows it and Elain Archeron knows it too. Good day.

If this doesn’t describe them I don’t know what does 🪻

Gwynriels: The books speak for themselves.

The books: "Would you like me to show you the garden?" • But Elain did not balk from him, did not shy away • “Beautiful." • Color bloomed high on Azriel's golden-brown cheeks, but he inclined his head in thanks and led my sister toward the back doors into the garden, sunlight bathing them. • "I can help her," said Azriel, stepping to the table as Elain silently rose. • "She doesn't need anything" • It made sense, I supposed, that Azriel alone had listened to her. • But Azriel asked softly, "What about Elain?" • "I'm getting her back." Nesta slid her gaze to the shadowsinger. Azriel's hazel eyes glowed golden in the shadows. Nesta said, "Then you will die." Azriel only repeated, rage glazing that stare, "I'm getting her back." • "Are you hurt?" •

"You came for me." • Azriel still cradling Elain to his chest. He dripped blood behind him the entire time • "We need Helion to get these chains off her." • Yet Elain didn't seem to notice them as she rose up on her toes and kissed the shadowsinger's cheek. • "This is Truth-Teller," he told her softly. "I won't be using it today—so I want you to." • I have never once seen Azriel let another person touch that knife. • Light and dark, the space between their bodies a blend of the two. • "He is Elain's mate." I waited. "It would be an invasion of her privacy to track him." • "If Lucien kills Graysen, then good riddance." • "Are we supposed to get the sisters presents?" • I felt, more than saw, my sister go still as he approached. Her throat bobbed. • "Sit. I'll take care of it." • "Wait until everyone is seated before eating." • I made to move toward her, but someone beat me to it. • "Oh, that's from me." • Elain smiled again, ducking her head. Azriel mastered himself enough to say, "Thank you." • Azriel and Elain remained in the sitting room, my sister showing him the plans she'd sketched to expand the garden in the back of the town house • "Because of the shit with Elain?" Azriel stilled. "What happened to Elain?" • No one spoke, though shadows gathered in the corners of the room, like snakes preparing to strike. • "I know. I helped rescue Elain, after all." • Azriel stiffened, an outright sign of temper from him as he said quietly, "There is an innate darkness to the Dread Trove that Elain should not be exposed to." • Azriel stood in the doorway, monitoring them. As if he'd heard Elain's sharp laugh and wondered what had caused it. • Then his gaze shifted to Elain, and though it was utterly neutral, something charged went through it. Between them. • A pretty lie. She'd seen Azriel before the fire plenty. But she looked at who sat close to it and knew the answer. • Because her mate had been in the family room and Azriel had needed to stay by the door the whole time because he couldn't stand the sight of it, the scent of their mating bond • Letting his scarred fingers touch her immaculate skin. • It had never gone this far. They'd exchanged looks, the occasional brush of their fingers, but never this. Never blatant, unrestricted touching. • He needed to know what the skin of her neck tasted like. What those perfect lips tasted like. Her breasts. Her sex. He needed her coming on his tongue -- • How that beautiful face might appear as he entered her, what sounds she'd make. • Elain bit her lower lip, and it took every ounce of Azriel's restraint to keep from putting his own teeth there. • Her arousal drifted up to him, and his eyes nearly rolled back in his head at the sweet scent. He'd beg on his knees for a chance to taste it. • Just this taste in the dead of the longest night of the year, where only the Mother might witness them. • Tilting her face the way he wanted it. • Offer and permission • "You can't order me to do that."

Azriel stilled. "What happened to Elain?"

Cassian waved a hand. "A fight with Nesta. Don't bring it up," he warned when Azriel's eyes darkened.

Cassian surveyed the shadows gathered around Az. "You all right?"

His brother nodded. "Fine." But shadows still swarmed him. Cassian knew it was a lie, but didn't push it.

I saw a post that said the problem with Elriel is that Az only lusts for Elain, he doesn’t care about her. And to that I say; are we reading the same source material? And also; what’s wrong with lusting after Elain she’s literally so hot

If you’re not excited by the prospect of the seer and the shadowsinger sneaking around in the next book than I don’t know how I ended up on your feed…

it’s all I think about

While we're waiting for the announcement, what's your guess for the title of the next acotar book?

☁️ A Court of Veiled Dreams ☁️

In the same way silver flames relates to Nestas power— I think Acotar 5 will hint at Elains power. I like that veiled could be the things Elain sees that no one else does, but could also refer to her spy training and forbidden romance with a certain shadowsinger.

“Just because Lucien was her mate didn't mean he had a claim on her time. Her affection. She was her own person, capable of making her own choices. Assessing her own needs.”

Elains needs 👀:

I need this to be the moodboard for certain scenes in Elriel’s book okay?

Azriel realising Elain has been having spy lessons with Nuala and Cerridwen, when she sneaks a note into his room. He leaves his reply in her room— and they start this little game of writing to each other about their day, their lives… (Azriel considers it a “workaround” to Rhys’ order). And sometimes Elain will move something of Azriel’s and have him try to guess what’s different and it becomes the best part of their day 🥹

Azriel developing feelings for Gwyn after reading his history with Mor and his slow-burn, tense, forbidden relationship with Elain not only seems at odds with his character but makes him so unbelievably unlikable.

Some readers would rather have him act like an absolute knob than have 3 brothers + 3 sisters because it’s “cheesy”.

When people say Elain doesn’t belong in the Night Court— instead of reminding them of this quote:

“But she hadn’t hesitated to come. When Feyre had offered to let her remain home, Elain had squared her shoulders and declared that she was a part of this court—and would do whatever was needed.”

I’m going to start using this quote:

Feyre: "I don't really know where I fit in anymore."

Azriel: "I've been alive almost five and a half centuries, and I'm not sure of that, either.”

Because the real argument is whether Elriel are staying together or leaving together :)

“It’s just physical, Azriel doesn’t care about Elain as a person”

"It's all very disorienting." "I can imagine"

"Would you like me to show you the garden?"

“I can help her”

"What about Elain?"

"I'm getting her back."

"Are you hurt?"

“We need Helion to get these chains off her."

“This is Truth-Teller. I won't be using it today—so I want you to.”

“What happened to Elain?"

“You don't-- Don't apologize. Never apologize.”

He’s my Rhysand what can I say? 🦇🌌

gif credit glcssygifs

♡ josh heuston via tiktok ( jheuston )

Just this taste

in the dead of the longest night of the year

where only the Mother might witness them

image by fauxdette + Gencraft

Azriel's presence helped. He now trained the newest recruits, quiet and gentle yet unfaltering, and if she didn't know better, she'd swear at least two of the priestesses--Roslin and Ilana sighed every time he walked past.

having a crush on the shadowsinger is just canon I guess

The words struck Nesta like a slap. They'd spoken of her, her behaviour, her attitude. Elain and Feyre— that was the new status of things. The bond Elain had chosen.

in-ter-es-ting choice of words, Sarah.

The idea of Az singing karaoke, kissing Elain and just having fun at Rita’s makes me feral

credit 1 • credit 2 • credit 3